Equine inverted posture alarm

ABSTRACT

This invention is a system for detecting the relative inverted posture of an equine mammal. When such a posture, or positional attitude, of an equine mammal is greater than 90+/− degrees but less than 270+/− degrees as measured with respect to the rotation of the animal&#39;s body around the lateral axis—anterior to posterior—whereby the normal standing position of the animal is zero degrees, then a sensing device will activate and emit a radio frequency signal to a receiver at a remote location and sound an alarm to alert monitoring personnel.

DESCRIPTION—EQUINE INVERTED POSTURE ALARM

[0001] This system of invention includes three components: 1.) Sensor—Asensing and transmitting device in the form of a weather- andshock-resistant container of electronic components, including a powersupply (battery), a gravitational switch, a radio frequency transmitter,a power amplifier, and an antenna; 2.) Harness—An apparatus of specificdesign to carry the sensor in a precise position on the horse withoutrestricting respiration, and at the same time, maintaining properposition to allow the sensor to operate accurately; 3.) Monitor—Areceiving and monitoring device in the form of a container of electroniccomponents, including an antenna, a radio frequency receiver (frequencymatched to the transmitter of the sensor), a power amplifier, manual andelectronic switches, position lamps, alarm light and alarm audibledevice, and power supply (battery for portable model;transformer/rectifiers/capacitive filters and overload protector for thein-home model).

UTILITY—EQUINE INVERTED POSTURE ALARM

[0002] Said harness, with sensor attached, would be positioned around anequine mammal's mid-section-immediately aft of the animal's withers,topside, and immediately forward of the animal's belly, bottom side (Seedrawing, page 6). Said harness, when properly adjusted, will notrestrict normal respiration, and, coupled with the natural gravitationalforces acting upon the suspended sensor and symmetrically placed harnessadjustment buckles will maintain the sensor in its proper spatialposition and alignment: 1.) Positioned at the lowest point of theharness apparatus, and, 2.) Aligned with the lateral axis of the animal.

[0003] When the animal lays and rolls−or, attempts to roll—thegravitational sensing switch within the sensor, closes and activates theoperation of the radio-frequency transmitter, which wirelessly transmitsthe animal's inverted posture condition to a remote location limited indistance primarily by the power capacity of the transmitter circuitrywhich is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. Thesignal-receiving device of the monitor must be RF frequency matched tothe RF transmitter in the sensor. The design of the monitor utilizes afiltering device that inhibits spurious events, i.e., horse running,frolicking, or the jostling movements of normal lying, from activatingthe alarm. The design of the monitor of this invention provides for asingle-event single-alarm mode, as well as a single-eventcontinuous-alarm mode, e.g., alarm sounds from a single event andremains sounding, until reset at the monitor, even though the animal hasrighted itself. This mode of operation is particularly advantageous,especially if monitoring personnel are asleep.

[0004] The design of the monitor of this invention provides for asingle-event single-alarm mode, as well as a single-eventcontinuous-alarm mode, e.g., alarm sounds from a single event andremains sounding, until reset at the monitor, even though the animal hasrighted itself. This mode of operation is particularly advantageous,especially if monitoring personnel are asleep.

EXAMPLES

[0005] In four examples of abnormal equine parturition, documented bythe inventor, three mares exhibited dystocia symptoms, one hypoxia. Allof these mares exhibited violent inversion activity, as evidenced bythrashed stall bedding, stomped ground, and broken fence rails. Three ofthe four mares, not monitored with the invention, delivered dead foals.(One delivery required forceful human intervention to expel the deadfetus, and the mare rendered reproductively unsound for the followingbreeding season). In the fourth example of abnormal equine parturition,the invention alarmed ranch personnel from sound sleep. The personnelintervened, physically re-aligned the foal within the birth canal, and anormal delivery ensued, producing a live and healthy specimen. In sixsubsequent examples, four foals delivered during hours of darkness. Ineach case the alarm alerted ranch personnel who witnessed normaldeliveries without intervention.

[0006] While the inventor has not exemplified the use of the inventionfor detecting the onset of colic, the notorious symptoms include violentand repetitive posture inversion. It is feasible to deduce, therefore,that this invention could be utilized successfully to alarm personnel ofthe onset of the colic event.

ECONOMICS

[0007] The research and development of all the components of thisinvention have previously been tried, tested, and proven, and arereadily available, therefore, the cost to the consumer is expected to below. The invention should operate indefinitely under normal conditions,with periodic battery replacement.

LIABILITIES

[0008] Since this invention has been designed utilizing low-powercircuitry, intended for the explicit use of monitoring an animal byminimal contact with the animal and non-invasive installation of thesensor, the liabilities potential should be negligible.

SUMMARY

[0009] While prior art encompasses equine parturition sensing devicesbased on temperature monitoring systems, tail raising, lying prone, orincreased heart rate, these devices are by no means ultimate orexclusive systems for the monitoring of diverse and crucial symptomaticevents such as abnormal parturition or colic. While this system cannotdifferentiate between normal and symptomatic inversion, the inventorfeels that the inconvenience of being alerted to the normal inversionfar outweighs the implications of not being alerted during symptomaticinversions. Since approximately 85% of all normal pregnant mares foalduring the hours of darkness, and since the inventor has witnessednegligible incidence of normal inversion during hours of darkness, andsince monitoring personnel may be less alert during hours of darkness,this invention can be a valuable tool for ranchers, ranch managers, ornovice horse owners, especially during hours of darkness.

1. Relating to equine, abnormal parturition during foaling is frequent,i.e., dystocia (fetal body parts maligned in birth canal), where fetuscannot be expelled without external assistance, or hypoxia (fetusstarved of oxygen from various causes such as pinched umbilical orcompressed arteries as result of abnormal movements or restrictionsduring parturition). In the frequent events of dystocia or hypoxia,human intervention is crucial to preclude a catastrophic outcome. Whenan abnormal situation occurs, it is a common practice for the mare toroll and thrash as a natural method to self-correct the problemcondition. Many times the mare's efforts to correct the conditionwithout intervention is futile, and the fetus dies. This invention wouldalert monitoring personnel to intervene and prevent the aforementionedadverse outcome.
 2. It is also common practice for an equine animal toinvert during the onset of colic (twisted or compacted intestine,blocked bile, or stomach disorder)—a many times fatal event. Thisinvention would alert monitoring personnel, and allow intervention toprovide treatment therefore preventing a fatality. This system willdetect the inversion of an equine mammal that is exhibiting symptoms ofabnormal parturition as well as the onset of colic, and alarm personnelto intervene.